(79) “Dancing on The Ceiling” and Chet Baker
Standards Rating 6, Difficulty Rating 3
“Dancing on the Ceiling,” composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the 1930 musical Ever Green, is a graceful, harmonically rich tune that fits well within Chet Baker’s cool jazz aesthetic. Baker, known for his lyrical trumpet style and soft, emotionally detached vocals, recorded a signature version of the song on his 1958 album Chet Baker Sings: It Could Happen to You. On this recording, Baker only sings, bringing a relaxed, introspective tone that contrasts with the tune’s buoyant title. The song’s structure—a 32-bar AABA form—features subtle harmonic turns, like chromatic movement and key shifts, which Baker navigates effortlessly with his smooth, unhurried phrasing. His intimate delivery reflects the quieter, more melancholic aspects of his style. A rising star in the 1950s, Baker’s charm and talent were at times overshadowed by his heroin addiction, legal troubles, and eventual decline. Yet even amid personal turmoil, Baker brought depth and vulnerability to standards, leaving a lasting mark on jazz interpretation.
